McLane, who purchased the Astros in 1993 and helped build Minute Maid Park, has sold the team to Jim Crane, ending an 18-year tenure in which the Astros ranked fourth in National League victories and sixth overall, including six playoff appearances between 1997-2005.

Ware, who starred at Dickinson High School, won the Heisman Trophy after his junior year at the University of Houston and became the Detroit Lions' first-round draft choice. Ware is a college football analyst for ESPN and will enter his 10th season as the analyst on the Texans' radio broadcasts. He is one of two Cougars on the ballot, joined by golfer Fred Couples.

The Class of 2011 will be voted on in August and enshrined next spring.

There are 20 nominees on the primary ballot and 12 on the veterans ballot.